Egg Shells on Orchid Phalaenopsis?
 

So I saw a thread around here about what to feed them and I got to thinking. There is a lady I know who grows them and sells them. She puts egg shells to help hers grow. I've also heard of cucumber skin, some use coffee. I'm wondering is this a good idea for phalaenopsis? Does it help it's growth or hurt it? Is fertilizer better than this? Thanks.

Well, I've been lurking around the forums a while and have not heard that at all. I think it's generally recommended to use fertilizer, that way you know exactly what's going into the pot and it gives exactly what the orchids need. No second guessing and no chance of something killing it by accident again (like what if coffee grounds are actually bad for it).

Grind the eggshell into a very fine powder, and maybe that might be true.

Otherwise, just putting large pieces of eggshell will not provide the necessary calcium to the plant.

Then how does oyster shell figure in?

The lady I know just places the large pieces right on there which I found a bit interesting. Your way does make more sense, thanks.

---------- Post added at 09:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 AM ----------

I know compost is good for plants, I think this is where they get the idea from. People seem to do this to their plants that are in pots too. How ever the items I hear others adding are not even decomposed, which is why I wonder more. I was thinking coffee might be bad for it too.

I noticed some outdoor growers who put freshly cracked egg shells to ward off snails and slugs; and some growers finely grind the shells for calcium if they cannot find fertilizers in their areas....

Coffee grounds on orchids are not recommended because they will add too much acidity to the growing medium. Too much acidity can burn their roots and keep the orchid from flowering and it will attract pests and your orchid might become infested with fruit flies and fungus gnats.
Remember, orchids do not need decaying compost and soil like the other plants.....orchids roots need moisture and air....this is created by providing a potting medium that has a combination of coarse and fibrous media.

Coffee in orchid pots is used as a couple of hour dunk to get rid of pest when bringing a plant in for the winter.

Cucumber or potato can also be used to get rid of snails (place pieces on the surface of the medium, then lift them off and the snails/slugs will have been attracted to them and lift off with the pieces.

Egg shells I guess are intended to add calcium but as Philip says unless it's finally crushed I don't think it will make a significant difference.